Nicardipine does but glofibrate does not elevate high density lipoprotein in experimental atherosclerosis in rats

ABSTRACT

In the present investigation, the effect of oral administration of nicardipine [NCP] [12.5-100 mg/Kg] and clofibrate [CF] [25-200 mg/Kg] on lipids and lipoproteins in normal and hyperlipidemic rats were studied. The serum and liver levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids were determined. Moreover serum high density lipoprotein [HDL], low density lipoprotein [LDL] and very low density lipoprotein [VLDL] were estimated. Results revealed that in normal rats both NCP and CF induced significant reductions of serum cholesterol. Moreover NCP tended to increase serum HDL-L cholesterol. However neither NCP nor CF significantly affect serum phospholipids, although serum triglycerides were significantly reduced by CF. Moreover; CF but not NCP produced significant decrease of liver cholesterol. Although liver triglycerides were significantly reduced by CF, they were significantly elevated by NCP. In hypercholesterolemic rats NCP but not CF significantly increased serum HDL-cholesterol. Both CF and NCP induced significant reduction of serum cholesterol. Moverover serum triglycerides were significantly elevated by NCP but not by CF. However, serum phospholipids were significantly decreased by CF, whereas NCP showed no effect. In liver, NCP produced significant elevation of phospholipids, whereas CF caused no significant alterations in phospholipids, cholesterol and triglycerides. The analysis of serum lipoproteins proved that NCP and CF caused significant reductions of both VLDL and LDL. Moverover NCP exhibited significant elevations in serum levels of high density lipoproteins Although CF caused no significant effects on high density lipoproteins of serum of hypercholesterolemic rats. Results were discussed